French Politicians Are In A Desperate Scramble To 'Own' Joan Of Arc's Political Legacy

MsAnthea via FlickrAs the 600th birthday of Joan of Arc approaches, France's main political players are attempting to claim her as their own.

Sadly, according to Reuters, the French patron saint is the subject of a dispute among the country's right wing parties.

Several years ago Joan was adopted by France's far-right National Front party several years ago due to her legacy of driving the English out of France (an early anti-immigration policy if you will).

Now, Joan has become the subject of Nicolas Sarkozy's attentions, and it hasn't gone down well with the National Front.

The far-right's party leader, Marine La Pen, is annoyed that Sarkozy's ruling conservative party are "hijacking" Joan of Arc's legacy reportedly saying:

"How can they pay tribute to someone who has defended the honor and sovereignty of France when in parallel they are organizing the enslavement of the French people to the financial markets and Brussels-dominated Europe."

France 24 reports that Sarkozy paid tribute to the saint by visiting places that were important in her life. He said that Joan of Arc should be seen as a symbol of French unity, and criticized the far-right for attempting to divide the country.

Additionally, AFP reports that the saint has also been adopted by the left in the past. Socialist politicians have cited Joan's humble upbringing as a reason to adopt her as a symbol.

Joan of Arc was born in 1412 and is championed in France for driving the English out of the country during the Hundred Year War. Despite her war-heroin status, she was burned at the stake for heresy in 1431. She was canonized by the Pope in 1920.